Absorbent last



(No Model.)

T. J. POSTER.

ABSORBENT LAST.

No. 262,217. Patented'Aug. 8, 1882.

W/ITNESSES: INVENTOR: WW fi/f/flwz ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. Plwmuho h r. Whhinglon. D.c.

- ATENT rrtca THOMAS J. FOSTER, OF GRANGER, INDIANA.

ABSORBENT LAST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 262,217, dated August 8, 1882.

Application filed November 23, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. FOSTER, of Granger, St. Joseph county, Indiana, haveinvented a new and Improved Absorbent Last, of which the following is a specification.

It is well known that when boots or shoes made of rubber or other water-proof material become wet or moist inside it is very difficult to thoroughly dry them.

The object of this invention is to provide a device whereby this drying may be readily and thoroughly accomplished and to this end my invention consists in a last-shaped block or form adapted to tit and substantially fill the 15 interior of a boot or shoe, and made of soapstone, plaster-of-paris, clay, or any well-known substance that will readily absorb moisture. This absorbent block or last-shaped form is inserted in the wet or moist boot or shoe to be dried, and is permitted to remain therein until all the moisture has been thoroughly absorbed from the interior of the said boot or shoe, after which it may be withdrawn and allowed to dry, when it is ready for further use.

I prefer to make this block in the shape of a last or human foot, in order that itma-y fit and substantially fill the interior of the boot or shoe, and it maybe molded from clay or plaster-of-paris, and be afterward dried or baked or it may be formed from a block of soapstone or any readily-absorbent material.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown a block or mass of absorbent material made or molded in the form of a last, which shape I prefer.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A device for drying the interior of boots or shoes, consisting of a solid block orlast-shaped form, made of soapstone, clay, or plaster-0tparis, and adapted to lit and substantially till the interior of said boot or shoe, substantially as herein specified.

THOMAS J. FOSTER.

Witnesses:

HENRY A. SHAFFER, WM. BOLLENS. 

